Two tons of fish poisoned by factory waste in Bogor
Two tons of fish poisoned by factory waste in Bogor
BOGOR (JP): About two tons of fish farmed by Pasir Jambu
villagers, North Bogor, have died after being poisoned by waste
water from nearby textile factory PT JN Loundry on Jl. Pemuda
Baru in Kampung Kedung Halang, North Bogor.
The polluted water runs into the Ciparigi River, which is used
by locals as the source of water for their fish ponds, as well as
by a nearby cassava processing factory.
Dozens of protesters thronged the company on Friday, demanding
the management not to dump any more waste into the river and at
the same time be financially responsible for their losses.
"Many of the farmers and locals in the village secured a
government-sponsored fund through the social safety net program
(JPS) to establish fish ponds or cassava processing factories.
"We all take the water from the Ciparigi River," said Dama
Ansor, a local leader.
In response to the villagers' protests, the company's
director, identified only as Andrian, admitted that the waste
from the factory had not been properly filtered.
Andrian said the waste processing machines as well as the
waste tank itself were broken.
"We will soon fix them and hopefully it will solve the
problem," he said.
"If the locals are demanding that we pay for the losses, we
will do so. I feel glad if they want us to reimburse the money,"
he added.
Andrian also said that the company normally releases several
goldfish into the river as a sign that the water was safe.
Local residents, however, feel that it is impossible for the
company to reimburse all their losses.
"We have repeatedly protested about this matter, but they have
never listened. If we really want them to pay for our damages, I
don't think they can afford to pay," Dama said.
Dama added that the waste water was blue and had started to
infiltrate the ground water villagers used for their daily needs.
Another local, named Romli, 50, said on Saturday how the waste
had caused a foul odor and also changed the color of the river.
"The waste is mixed with human feces. So imagine how polluted
the river is.
"The smell usually starts at 4 a.m., and I have no way of
avoiding it but to leave the house because the dump site is just
located behind my house," Romli said. (21/edt)